Ordinary diners who take part in our annual survey each spring review restaurants and leave their feedback, but we also ask them to score restaurants from 1-5 on food, service and ambience. Harden’s then uses an average of these scores and measures them against other establishments in the same price bracket to arrive at the ratings published in the guide and online.

Snippets from some of your feedback may end up in the overall Harden’s review, noticeably they appear in “double quotation marks”. The rest of our pithy, bite-sized restaurant summaries are compiled by analysing the survey data and extracting recurring themes, looking at whether or not a venue was nominated in any of our categories – like ‘favourite’ or ‘most overpriced’ – and, of course, looking at the ratings for food, service and ambience.

The Harden’s ratings indicate that a restaurant is:

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All reviews are compiled from survey comments and ratings, without any regard for our own personal opinions, except in cases where restaurants are too new to have been included in the survey. If you want the editors’ view on new restaurants in London you can find them in our Editors’ Review section.

Family-run French bistro in a candelit basement near Covent Garden

Harden's
survey result

Summary

“A far cry from tourist-land on its doorstep!” – this cute little bistro in Covent Garden has “a wonderful and unexpectedly intimate atmosphere” and can be “a brilliant find for pre-/post- theatre” thanks to its “lovely French dishes”.

Price

£55

££

Food

3

Good

Service

3

Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Summary

“Warm and welcoming staff” and an inviting interior (“improved after a recent refit”) add to the appeal of this “reliable old favourite” in Covent Garden. “The menu comprises the usual French suspects and even if the cooking won’t rock your world, the pre-theatre menu is good value for money”.

Price

£54

££

Food

2

Average

Service

3

Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Summary

“Expect candles and inviting booths” in this “quirky and romantic” bistro in the heart of Covent Garden. “It’s not high-end cuisine” (on occasion a bit “second rate”) but it’s generally “good value” and “very handy as a pre-theatre option”.

Price

£52

££

Food

2

Average

Service

3

Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Summary

This Covent Garden “bolt hole” is a good “safe bet” in this touristy locale; “it’s a standard, very French bistro, with no wow factor, but you’ll probably go again”.

Price

£49

££

Food

2

Average

Service

3

Good

Ambience

3

Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

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Owner's description

Le Garrick is a classic French restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden that has one of the most intimate settings, offering an authentic menu inspired by the cooking from the South West region of France.

Opened over 30 years ago, Le Garrick is run by Dominika and Charles, who met in the restaurant over 10 years ago. Charles, a true French man, soon became a regular customer after discovering this little piece of France in London's West End.

In an area packed with chains, Le Garrick is unique - an independent, family run business where the staff share a passion for offering good, honest, reasonably priced French food. Charles' upbringing in Toulouse, Burgundy and the Basque country have been an inspiration for many of the dishes on the menu at Le Garrick which are family recipes, many influenced by his mother. Like an extended family, the staff infuse the restaurant with an infectious joie de vivre.

Split over two levels, Le Garrick has a bright and welcoming street level dining room, great for people watching on the bustling streets of theatreland, whilst downstairs you will discover one of the most intimate settings in the capital. The bar and dining room features rustic brickwork, booth seating with candlelit alcoves, romantic nooks and crannies, secluded corners and a welcoming atmosphere - a true hidden gem which attracts both local businesses and a bohemian crowd of theatre goers, actors and artists alike.

Restaurant details

Recommended For BusinessYes

Outside TablesYes

Covers80

Recommended for RomanceYes

Le Garrick Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of Le Garrick Restaurant in WC2, London by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of Le Garrick restaurant.

Paul S

A restaurant in the middle of Covent Garden...

Reviewed 11 months, 5 days ago

"A restaurant in the middle of Covent Garden that's the restaurant you're always looking for in France. Good, well-cooked, unpretentious food served by friendly and efficient people. We always love coming here."